Tennessee will become the first state in the country to launch a public domestic violence offender registry when the system goes live on January 1. The registry is designed to track repeat domestic violence offenders and make that information easier for the public to access.
The registry was created under Savanna’s Law, named in honor of Savanna Puckett, a Robertson County sheriff’s deputy who was killed in 2022 by her former boyfriend. Lawmakers say her death highlighted gaps in how domestic violence histories are tracked and shared across the state.
The registry will be managed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and will include individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses two or more times. Public listings will show basic information such as a name, photo, date of birth, conviction dates, and county. Home addresses and Social Security numbers will not be included.
Offenders could remain on the registry anywhere from two to 20 years depending on the number of qualifying convictions. Supporters say the system gives victims, families, and communities another tool to better assess risk, while noting it only includes convictions within Tennessee.
State leaders say the registry fills a critical gap and could help prevent future violence by making repeat offender histories more visible and accessible.